“The welcoming heart of Manchester United.”
Sir Alex Ferguson officially unveiled the monument last Friday afternoon and it’s fair to say Kath might have bristled at the attention – she never wanted the limelight, she did her job for the love of it - but it was fitting that her spirit was felt so strongly on a day when a new training facility was unveiled and, behind the scenes, an exciting new signing began his own United journey.
This is the inside story of a historic Friday at Carrington…
The striker had a tight itinerary that began with his medical, administrative details and the signing of his all-important contract. We were set up in the Jimmy Murphy Centre to facilitate his content obligations, photographing him in all three kits and capturing the images that trended around the world following Saturday’s official announcement.
When Benjamin arrived, his height and physical presence were immediately striking. Standing at six foot and five inches, heavily tattooed and oozing confidence, he is what I’d poetically call ‘a unit’. He flashed a broad smile, (firmly) shook hands and did his best to remember names of club staff, which was no easy feat on a day when he met hundreds of people. He was immediately taken by our kits, the
“iconic”crest and our upcoming third kit – “can I take this?”, he asked.
Then came an unexpected visitor, Bruno Fernandes, who had raced from the training pitches to personally welcome his new team-mate. The two embraced and exchanged compliments, with our club captain promising to help him settle in at United, both on and off the pitch. Benjamin was due to view houses later that day and Bruno - an adopted Mancunian – is well placed to advice. Already this summer he has taken new signings to some of his favourite hotspots.
It was then time for Sesko to conduct his signing interview with club reporter Zarah Connolly, positioned outside in the Manchester sun. Naturally, we assured him it's always this hot in Manchester and it never rains. While setting up, a second member of the squad paid a visit in Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutchman had been training on a nearby pitch and made sure to make him feel welcome.
For a 22-year-old speaking another language, it was impressive how relaxed Benjamin was in front of the cameras. He spoke with great pride about his move to United and, notably, the fact he will become our first-ever player from Slovenia. He was delighted when Zarah informed him the national flag would fly from the top of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand as a result. He went on to express admiration for Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, and opened up most when discussing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a player he has studied during his fledging career so far.
Sir Alex began by delivering his moving tribute to our Kath, telling stories of her commitment to fan letters and incomparable tenure at the club.
“She was a real sweetheart, loved by everyone,”said the boss. “An exceptional person.” Outside, a tree had been planted with her ashes scattered beneath. A private ceremony had been held to mark the occasion.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe then stepped forward to thank the project teams who delivered the transformation of Carrington. With Ruben Amorim and the players watching on, he also thanked the squad for patiently working in temporary facilities while the building work took place. “There were lots of naysayers around, who said you’re not going to do that within 12 months, it’s going to be a mess, but I’m quite pleased to say that it’s come in on budget, on time and we’ve managed to operate all the teams here in reduced facilities and we made it work,” said Sir Jim.
Once the ribbon was cut, group tours began and I tagged onto the second wave that included former chief executive David Gill, director Michael Edelson, club icon Bryan Robson, Foundation CEO John Shiels and Sir Alex’s legendary kit man Albert Morgan. From the start it was clear they weren’t here for a day out. They all asked probing questions of our tour guides – ‘why is that there, what does that do, where is this?’ - hinting at why they've all achieved so much success. The details mattered to them and they were delighted by the answers.
Themes quickly emerged. The space is drenched in natural light in response to the old building’s ground floor – “it felt like you were in a hospital in the basement,”
said Sir Jim during his speech. There is now a more natural flow between areas, designed for the mobility of staff and greater collaboration.
Data is everywhere, too. It fuels the entire operation.
In the gym, staff sit in a hub measuring in real time and projecting on to giant screens, advising players of their physical condition and performance. Bikes and rowing machines sit in a ‘high altitude’ room where oxygen levels can be adjusted at the touch of a button - “even I could get fit in there,” remarked one guest.
There are four pools with different purposes: swimming, cold plunge, hot plunge and one with an underwater treadmill for rehabilitation, complete with media centres. The sauna and steam rooms are much bigger. The newly located treatment room now has panoramic windows looking out to the training pitches, in direct contrast to the previous space that was dark and introspective. The intention is to create a more positive, healthy experience - “light at the end of the tunnel”
, so to speak. MRI, CT and whole-body scanners are nearby, as well as cryotherapy and hyperbaric chambers, with innovative deep sleep meditation pods coming soon.
Data flows through the operation and, notably, into the ‘cinema’ room where analysis meetings are held, playing back footage and presentations to the players, with the coaching staff stood at the back of the amphitheatre. The leather seats were so comfy our group didn't want to leave.
The dressing room lockers include LED touchscreens that display each players’ schedules, nutrition and messages from staff. In a true sign of 2025, 'smart urinals' even offer instant analysis around hydration. One thing remains the same, though, and that’s the stench of the boot room. No amount of technology can hide the fragrance of hard work and, amusingly, Albert looked right at home, with decades worth of memories flooding back.
Beside the dressing room, a breakout space with sofas, gaming consoles and a big-screen TV encourages social interaction. That theme continues in the players’ quarters, where we find a working barbers, Formula 1 simulator, pool table and restaurant. A champion of team spirit and togetherness, Robbo was deeply impressed, although he stopped short of getting a short back and sides.
As we continued, it's communicated that curators from the Museum have meticulously filled the building with history, showcasing dozens of items ranging from trophies to awards, match pennants to iconic matchday programmes. It’s a reminder of our unrivalled story and, hopefully, inspiration for future successes.
There’s a heartwarming moment in our group when Gill climbs the spiral staircase to study a small silver shield. It’s the Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year award and his son’s name, Oliver Gill, is inscribed as the 2010/11 winner. We wait as he snaps a photo on his phone, turns and beams. A giant of United history is suddenly just a proud dad firing up the family WhatsApp group.
Our tour meanders into the open-plan office space, where departments from across the club come together alongside executive leadership. The guests move on to the board room, studio spaces, press conference centre and more, but this is my que to head back to my desk and rejoin our team working through a day’s worth of content. The unveiling of a new Carrington is still being rolled out and the announcement of Sesko’s transfer is edging closer.
When we eventually leave several hours later, my gaze is drawn to the new plaque behind reception. It carries a short but impactful message from Kath, speaking to everyone who sets foot in the building. A mission statement to live by.
“Work hard and smile, you're at Manchester United.”